A marriage breakdown and a painful separation from your spouse can be a very distressing and heart-breaking time for you to go through.
Whether you are currently in the process of getting a divorce or it has all been finalized, it’s never too early to start thinking about what you’re going to do to heal after a marriage breakdown, let go, and start enjoying this new and exciting chapter in your life.
It’s completely normal to feel a little bit lost, alone, and unsure of yourself after a divorce. This is especially true if you have just ended a marriage that lasted a long time, as adjusting to single life once again can be even trickier.
The good news is that there are several simple steps you can take to help yourself heal after a marriage breakdown and move on with your life.
#1. Surround Yourself With Supportive People:
First of all, getting over a divorce can be a very difficult time, so make sure that you’re reaching out to the people in your life who want to help, support, and be there for you whilst you recover emotionally and learn to love and find yourself again.
Set aside time to spend with your family, close friends, and even make the effort to reconnect with old friends that you may not have seen for a while. And when you’re ready, you may even want to consider taking part in new activities and hobbies to meet new people and cultivate new friendships.
#2. Give Yourself Time to Grieve:
Going through a broken marriage and divorce is one of the most stressful, and in some cases upsetting, things you will ever experience. Because of this, it’s important that you give yourself the time you need to grieve.
Buy a journal or a notebook that you can write your feelings down in, or arrange catch-ups with close friends that you feel comfortable confiding in. If you find that your sad feelings are taking over your life, there’s no shame in seeking out therapy either.
You will feel much better when you give yourself this time to heal from a marriage breakdown, as opposed to bottling everything up and trying to get on with things as normal.
#3. Let Go of the Past:
In some cases, holding on to anything that you shared with your significant other prior to the divorce can make the experience all the more painful. If you’re struggling to heal, consider selling or giving away anything that you purchased together, and that you have been left with.
If you owned a home, selling it and splitting the money between you two will give you the financial independence that you need to re-start your life and help you cut any remaining ties to your ex.
Don’t forget your engagement and wedding rings, either – getting rid of a diamond is liberating and can be one of the best ways to start the process of moving on and letting go. The money you’ll receive won’t hurt either and can be put towards therapy – both retail and counseling.
#4. Look After Yourself:
After years of marriage, it’s not uncommon to feel that you’ve spent more time looking after other people than yourself.
When going through a divorce, it’s the best time to focus on spending time on yourself and doing the things that you enjoy. Even just ten minutes per day for ‘me’ time and doing something you like can help you feel much better and stronger.
#5. Take Things One Step at a Time:
Getting your life to where you want it to be after going through a marriage breakdown can be a long and difficult process. So, don’t worry if it’s taking you longer than you expected to get over your ex, or if you’re not living the kind of life that you hoped you would be at this point.
Everybody responds to divorce differently, and whilst some people can bounce back, others need more time to process the changes in their life and adapt. Be patient with yourself and stay true to yourself; if something doesn’t feel quite right for you at the moment, then there’s no need to rush into it.
#6. Focus on Your Health:
It can be easy to forget about our health and wellness when going through a stressful situation such as divorce. But, looking after your health by eating well, exercising regularly and getting plenty of sleep can help you cope with the situation better. And, it will boost your confidence and help you shine.
Did you find these ideas helpful? Do you have any of your own tips for healing after a marriage breakdown? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
